Bullies turn cyberspace into a world of cruelty

Ella, 16, overcame her bullying ordeal and now works with other victims. Photo / Steven McNicholl

It began with name-calling at school, when a group of girls "Ella" thought were friends decided to get catty over a boy.

But the bullying spread from the playground to the internet and cellphones - abusive texts, social networking posts and even a Facebook page dedicated to her torment.

"But then they just carried it on without that being a reason any more."

Ella - whose identity the Herald has agreed to keep secret - says the attacks began at 14 when the girls suddenly turned on her over a rumour that she was interested in a boy another of the group liked.

"But it was a complete misunderstanding," Ella says.

At first, the girls began calling her names, giving her the odd nudge and tormenting her at school. Then "it turned a bit ugly".

The group set up a Facebook page to attack Ella, posting pictures, nasty comments and rumours and encouraging others to do the same.

She also started to receive threatening text messages.

"They would post pictures of me and tag me in them and get people to write things on them. It was like a Turn-Against-Ella page.

"They would call me names and use things against me. I got Facebook chats from people I didn't know saying, 'I can't believe you said that about me. I don't even talk to you or know you'. It got a bit scary at school."

Ella's experiences of bullying are shared by an increasing number of children as the rise of social media and cellphones changes the way children can be tormented.